Leg splint



June 2', 1925.

w. A. PENDERGRAFT.

LEG SPLI'NT Filed Oct. 4. 1922 2 Sheqts-Sheet 1 Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,539,911 PATENT -OFFlCE.-

WILLIAM A. PENDERGRAFT, OF CARNEY, OKLAHOMA.

LEG SPLINT.

Application filed October 4, 1922. Serial No. 592,309.

This invention relates to surgical apparatus and more particularly to splints for broken or otherwise injured legs.

The object of the invention is to provide a splint of this character constructed so as to maintain a broken leg or one having tubercular joints in a comfortablenormal position and to provide uniform traction in order that best results may be obta ned.

Another object is to so construct an apparatus that it may fit legs of different lengths and sizes and which is equipped with removable means to support the leg at vari- 011s inclinations.

Another object is to provide a simple and eliicient means for stretching the injured leg with the least discomfort possible by means of which any desire-d traction and permanent extension may be made.

Another object is to provide a splint of this character having a crutch-like arm engaging extension connected therewith at the hip to assist in the stretching operation and to permit the patient to bear down on from the shoulder to relieve pressure against the body.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawingsz--- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a splint constituting this invention shown applied.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof detached with parts in section. v

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated, the splint- 1 constituting this invention comprises a substantially elongated U-slraped member 2, the side rails 3 and A of which are designed to lie alongside the opposite sides of the users leg as is shown in Fig. 1. These side rails '3 and 4: extend parallel forthe major portion of their length and at their outer rear ends diverge as shown at 5 and '6 to conformto the shape of the leg. These diverging ends 5 and 6 telescopically engage hollow side rails 7 and 8 and are adjustably secured therein by means of set screws 9, which pass through openings in the side rails 7 and 8 at their front ends and enter apertures 10 in the rails 5 and 6 a plurality of which are provided and spaced longitudinally so that the length of the rails may be varied to adapt the appara-' tus to lit legs of different lengths. The hollow side rails 7 and 8 havehingedly connected extensions 11 which telescopically 'engage hollow bars 12 and 13 connectedat their outer ends by curved hingedly connected sections 1A and 15 which provide for the rails 12 and 13 being adjusted toward or away from each other to fit legs of different sizes. These hingedly connected sec tions 14 and 15 form, when united, a substantially semi-circular thigh support as is shown clearly in Fig. 1 and are preferably padded as shown at 16 to prevent abrasion of the users leg. The hinge connection of the rails 7 and 8 with the extensions 11 provides a hinge joint at the knee portion of the splint to permit bending or passive motion of the knee to prevent ankylosis of the knee joint, which frequently occurs when the knee" joint is severely injured.

The rails 12 and 13 are hollow through out and open at both ends, their outer or rear ends being designed to receive a crutchlike member 20. One of these members only is provided, it being designed to be connected with the outside rail of the splint according to which leg the splint is used'on'. This clutch-like member 20 is composed of a T-shaped outer section 21, the'head 22 of which is longitudinally curved to adapt it to fit under the arm of the user while. its shank or stem 23 is made hollow carrying at its outer end a set screw 24 which isdesigned'to adjustably engage an extension member 25. This extension member 25 is composed of bars 26 and 27 hingedly connected at their inner ends to form a hinge joint at the thigh joint of the patient to permit bending at this point. Each bar 27 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally 11 between the spaced apertures 28 for adjustably connecting the bar" with the "rail 12 at one end and t with the shank 23 at the other end.

A leg support 29yis connected with the members 11 of the side rails and is here shown in the form of a stirrup composed of hingedly connected sections to provide for the positioning of the rails toward and away from eachother to fit legs of val-yin sizes. This stirrup 29 is ivotally connecte at its ends; with the; members 11 adjacent their hin ed cqnnection with the members 7 and 8, said stirrup ends being offset inwardly and located o'n'theinner faces of the rails or members 11 as is shown clearly in Fig, 3.7 Arcuate. brackets 30 are fixedly connected at one end to the inner ends oi'the members ivotal connection oi the stirrupv therewith and their hinged connection with members? and 8.

Thesearcuate'braekets. have a plurality of. longitudinally spaced apertures to receive set screws asfBl, which" are designed to detachabl'y connect the stirrup 29' with the bracketsso that it may be positioned at a greateror less inclination according to the.- position in which the leg is to; be used. A master support 32' connected with the too-t portionor front end of the splint is here; show. U-shaped form with the legs there: of '0" set inwardly; at their outer ends p afly co nec 3 with'th ide rails.

' 3 an 4., De endin brackets 34 are. car

ried by d g h .7 the si e rails and and are. aper: tured for. adjustable connection with the side bars of the; support 32,. being held en'- 7 glaged therewith by. set screwsas 35 to adapt e foot portion. of the, splint tofbe. raised or lowered to, suit the comfortof the user or the ill of the surgeon. Aioot Support 36fis preferably'constructed or ven, Wir is mounted etw n t e, sidelrail sfiland 4 being carried by an up..- stzanding inverted Uy-shaped sliding hanger The freeycnds-of this hanger are bifurcated, as, shown in 4 and the furcations.

thgereot straddle the side bars or rails, 3 and 4 and are equipped with ball or roller bearn s to permit them to slide freely on. the. lfai ls'and are limited in their sliding movement depending shoulders 88 on; the loweriaces of: the side rails,

foot support 36 is shaped to conforni to the usefls foot as is shown clearly 1,: and the sole portion 39 thereof is] equipped with transversely spaced. longi: tudinally extending slots. 40 and 41:, through which an attaching, strip 42 is designed to pass connecting the foot support with the foot of the user and with a scale 43 as is shown clearly in Fig. 2. This scale 43; is connected at. its other, end with a threaded:

rod 44 adiustably mounted in the outer end of the member 2 and securedin adjusted the required: traction is placed thereon by turnin the wing nut 45 to project or retract t e rod 44.

\Yire cloth splints 46, 47, and 48 of desired length and depth are designed to be suspended on the rails at the opposite sides of the apparatus by means of hooks 49 which are soldered or qtherwise secured to the splints to form a rest for the leg to be suppprted. The foot rest 36 referred to above is alsq constructed'of wire cloth and is adjustabl'y connected to the hanger member 37 by means of a lon itudi'nally extend ing apertured plate 50 t rough which and the member 37 asses a set screw 51 to provide for the lateral adjustment of the foot rest relatively to vthe rails;

s lints 52, and 53 are arranged over the leg opposite the v s "lints 47 and 4'8, andare held n operative position by means of straps 53' which are preferably made in sections one bein carried by one side rail and the other being carried by the other and united by buckles as 55..

Absorbing cotton or other suitable packing is shown at 56 arranged between the leg of the user and the top splint sections 52 and 53 to prevent them from abrading the wearers leg.

From the above description it will be obvious that the s lint constitutin this invention may he l ed on either the eft or the right leg simply transferring the clutchm mb 2 r m 9 18 a l to' e th r l and 2 showing it applied for use on t e ri ht leg,

fdesired, the supporting stirrups 29' and 2 ma be fielde o n fi m d. as may also the bracket members with which they are connected so as to permit the leg to lie out straight. Should the heel" of the pa tient or the ankle be seriously injured, the he res 36 may be emq e pr p bandages substituted. V

I claim v I V 1. A leg splint comprising 4 laterally s aced side'rai-l's to be mounted along the sides of the leg, to be supported a H shaped barconneeting t'he front ends of said rails, a crutch member carried by one of said rails and hinged'ly connectedat the hip, said s d a ls at g hi ge t r n at th kn portion to permit passive motion of the; knee to prevel ltankylosis of the hnee joint, a stir rup connecting said side rallsa-n'd composed of hingedly connected sections to provide for the positioning of the rails toward or away from each otherto fitlegs of varying sizes, 1

2 leg splint oomprisir laterally spaced side railsto mounted" ajong the sides of the leg to be supported, a U-shaped bar connecting the front ends of said rails, a crutch member carried by one of said rails and hingedly connected at the hip, said side rails having a hinge therein at the knee portion to permit passive motion of the knee to prevent ankylosis of the knee joint, a stirrup connecting said side rails and composed of hingedly connected sections, said stirrup being pivotally connected at its ends with the said rails adjacent the hinge in said rails, and arcuate brackets fixedly connected at one end to the inner ends of the hinged rail members between the pivotal connection of the stirrup therewith, the other ends of said brackets being detachably and adjustably connected with said stirrup so that it may be positioned at a greater or less incline according to the position in which the leg is to be supported.

3. A leg splint comprising laterally spaced side rails to be mounted along the sides of the leg to be supported, a U-shaped bar connecting the front ends of said rails, a crutch member carried by one of said rails andhingedly connected at the hip, said side rails having a lilnge therein at the knee portion to permit passive motion ot the knee to prevent ankylosis of the knee joint, a stirrup connecting said side rails and composed of hingedly connected sections, said stirrup being pivotally connected at its ends with the said rails adjacent the hinge in said rails, and arcuate brackets fixedly connected at one end to the inner ends of the hinged rail members between the pivotal connection of the stirrup therewith, the other ends of said brackets being detachably and adjustably connected with said stirrup so that it may be positioned at a greater or less incline according to the position in which the leg is to be supported, a U-shaped rest pivotally connected with the foot portion of said splint, brackets carried by the said rails and adjust-ably connected with the rest to adapt the foot portion of the splint to be raised or lowered to suit the comfort of the user.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afli'xed my signature in the presence 0t two witnesses.

\VILLIAM A. PENDERGRAFT.

\Vitnesses:

R. E. HANMER, HUGH DEAN. 

